$67B more to fight an unpopular war

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's asking Congress for an additional $67 billion to continue fighting a war that most Americans don't approve of is ridiculous ["Hegseth: War has cost $37.5B so far," News, July 22].

According to President Donald Trump, we've "decimated" Iran's military capabilities, and the Pentagon still has an additional $75 billion that hasn't been spent from last year's budget. So what's the need for more funds or to continue the hostilities?

We had a fair agreement in place from the Obama administration that Trump withdrew from in 2018. Before this war with Iran began, the Strait of Hormuz was open, and now Americans have been paying for the war with increased oil prices, so why should we pay even more to fund a seemingly unsustainable war?

Bill Lapof, East Islip

Donald Trump's war, which most did not want, has Pete Hegseth asking for $67 billion of our money — above the estimated $37.5 billion cost so far — and that is just unconscionable. Now, Trump says he will help Lebanon "a lot" and that is also mind-blowing.

That money could do more good if invested in our country, helping our own people, who should be a priority. It would positively impact many lives right here.

Our military personnel should not be getting killed in a war we should never have begun, in which we had no business being involved.

Diane Rappaport, Woodbury

Tariffs join a long list of self-harm

Trump's new tariffs are both an attack on America's pocketbook and its patience ["Trump imposes new tariffs on dozens of trade partners," News, July 24].

This Republican administration has gone out of its way to take actions that wind up hurting this country. It has gutted the government of so much expertise, alienated our allies and trading partners, undermined independent institutions such as the media and academia, implemented a corrupt pay-to-play system of doing business, and created an unaccountable police force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Our own government has become the biggest threat to our democracy and the Constitution.

Bob Bascelli, Seaford

How noble President Donald Trump has suddenly become by enacting tariff punishments on 60 of America's trading partners for their failure to eliminate the use of forced labor ["New lawsuits for Trump's new tariffs," News, July 26]. How clever his legal team is for discovering a necessary loophole in former President Gerald Ford's Trade Act of 1974 to impose such tariffs.

As the administration attempts to worm around the Supreme Court loss of previous worldwide tariffs, the American electorate continues to stomach more chaos, mind-boggling legal fees, and additional inflation of the price of goods we use every day. It's been a dizzy ride.

Kathleen Young, Blue Point

Wildlife isn't the problem — we are

All living beings have value. Deer belong in the forests and woodlands ["Deer are pests, not Disney stars," Musings, July 13]. It is humans who through deforestation and development have encroached on their habitat, disrupted ecosystems, and brought us into close contact with wildlife.

Neither deer nor ticks can simply be eliminated, just as rats and mice have never been eradicated. Ticks will find other mammals to survive on.

Moreover, Lyme disease is only one of more than 200 known diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Rather than blaming wildlife, we should respect nature, protect ecosystems, and use our intellect to adopt effective preventive measures against zoonotic diseases. Learning to coexist responsibly with the natural world is a wiser, more lasting solution.

Dr. Sharada Jayagopal, East Williston

Let voters decide on their share of pork

Politicians are elected, in part, to "bring home the bacon," but you can't do this without pork ["Earmarks for LI, now with strings," News, July 20].

Congress should allocate a percentage of the budget for such discretionary spending, and each representative should get a relatively equal share. But whichever party has the majority would get more to allocate.

Gene Bernstein, Southampton

Fix Route 25A along with other state roads

I was glad to read about all the road repairs ["State to repave major roads, airport runway," Our Towns, July 23].

But there was a large omission:

Route 25A from Bread and Cheese Hollow Road in Fort Salonga, by the IGA and CVS shopping center, all the way east to Pulaski Road in Kings Park, by the Park Bake Shop (where street signs change 25A's name to Main Street).

Kings Park is a disaster. Cars weave all over the road — and rightfully so — trying to avoid potholes and uneven surfaces. Please, New York State, include us in your repairs, too.

Linda Kay, Kings Park